Selectmen Approve Pound Policies

And Honor Teen 9/11 Fundraiser

By John Voket

The Board of Selectmen spent the majority of its brief meeting March 19 discussing and receiving feedback on policies for the new town animal control facility. But not before honoring one of Newtown’s young leaders who worked on a recent fundraising project for the National September 11 Memorial.

Before the meeting commenced, First Selectman Pat Llodra recognized Patrick Briscoe with a proclamation in recognition of his efforts. Mrs Llodra told the board and citizens in attendance that the eighth grader at St Rose of Lima School was recently named as one of two Connecticut honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Award.

Patrick collected pennies at various locations, including The Newtown Bee office, and raised more than $1,200 to purchase two cobblestones and a granite paving stone on behalf of Newtown at the National September 11 Memorial in New York City.

During brief remarks, the young honoree told Mrs Llodra, Selectmen Will Rodgers and James Gaston, that he knew a lot of people in Newtown were personally affected by the events of 9/11, and that he felt it was important for the entire community to somehow be represented as part of the permanent memorial at the former World Trade Center site.

A few minutes later, the board settled into brief deliberations and then unanimously passed a new policy for the animal control facility. Mrs Llodra thanked representatives from the community, as well as animal lovers representing various organizations in town, for their contributions in crafting the final draft of the policy.

A copy of the policy can be found at newtownbee.com.

Mr Gaston added that the selectmen “received some very constructive input.”

“This led to a policy that that will be best for the community and best for the animals,” Mr Gaston said.

Mr Rodgers said that the process to craft the final draft was very productive, and that he was hopeful the public understood the need to have such formal procedures in place.

“This formalizes the process, and provides cover for the process,” Mr Rodgers said.

In a rare move, Mrs Llodra invited anyone at the meeting to weigh in with questions or final comments before the policy was ratified. Among the residents who participated in the final deliberations were Robin Fennimore, who posed questions and made observations about the plan to employ a contract behaviorist to help handle dogs with unique temperamental issues.

According to Mrs Llodra, that individual would be contracted as needed, to specifically work with dogs that might otherwise be deemed unadoptable, or pose a challenge to adopt because of a behavior issue that might include biting. The behaviorist would be compensated on contract, presumably from the animal control or facility’s budget.

Newtown Municipal Animal Control Officer Carolee Mason also commented on the importance of finding the right behaviorist, and the difference in skill sets between these specialized handlers and dog trainers.

Leila Nichols, who is the director of the dog program for the Newtown-based Animal Center and Canine Advocates volunteer Jackie zVon also participated with remarks and observations about the new policy.

Another longtime Canine Advocates supporter, Gene Rosen, wanted to clarify the scope of authority and makeup of an advisory board for the operation, which is part of the new policy. Mrs Llodra made it clear that the appointed board would draw from the community, and that it would only have advisory — not policymaking — prerogative.

Once discussion was closed, the policy was quickly adopted by a unanimous vote.

Hawleyville Sewers Session

In other news, Mrs Llodra told the board that she wrote a letter to Economic Development, Public Works, Land Use and Zoning officials, reminding them of a special meeting of the selectmen being called on March 29 regarding sewers and their relation to increasing interest in Hawleyville development projects.

Mrs Llodra also updated the board on a planned meeting with a state environmental official Howard Kilpatrick, which is set for May 21. Mr Kilpatrick of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will plan to discuss methodology with the selectmen regarding the town’s decision to use the agency to begin crafting what Mrs Llodra described as a “deer management template.”

The first selectman also toured the new Danbury Hospital Research Institute, which is the first in the nation to establish a Lyme disease registry. On that subject, the first selectman also reminded the board about the town’s latest focus on the invasive barberry, which she said has a “very clear connection to ticks” because it is a natural harbor for tick-carrying mice.

Mrs Llodra also circulated a brochure compiled by the town’s Conservation Commission, which is also posted for public review at newtown-ct.gov.